Having a Job is the New Green/Return of the Jobless Alumni

These days campus career centers are busier than usual. What makes them so popular; the growing number of jobless alumni.

The definition of alumni is anyone who has attended or graduated from a particular school, college, or university. You needn’t have graduated.

Although often forgotten after graduation, career centers at most colleges and universities are untapped resources that offer services for free or minimal fees.

“I wasn’t having much luck finding a job. My husband suggested I check out my college,” said Meredith Collins, media relations, CarMax, Inc., Richmond, VA. “I found a tremendous amount of resources.”

A 1998 graduate of the University of Richmond, Collins returned to her university career center in the fall. The center also steered her to their website full of career related materials, a search engine for jobs along with alumni networking.

Collins said she attended a campus job fair where many of the representatives were alumni. “It was nice because you had that instant bond.”

Ten months, 28 interviews, and 40 company personnel later she found the job she was looking for. “I would recommend the career center to any alumni.”

Most college career centers offer a host of services including career counseling, job leads, job search skills training, resume writing and critiquing, along with mock interviews. Jobs, alumni networking and reference materials are among the resources found at campus websites.

“We’ve always seen active use of the career center by our recent graduates,” said Andrew Ferguson, director of the Career Development Center at the University of Richmond. “Typically people who are out of college longer look to headhunters or networking, but in a down economy they expand their resources.”

The career services offers lifetime access to alumni and promotes this service through the alumni magazine and website. Benefits to the alumni include a feeling of coming home and the price is right, free. “It also helps us keep our alumni close.”

As for future plans, Ferguson noted that the center will launch a series of four workshops in four cities. “This will give the local alumni an opportunity to network with each other too.”

Tasha Fryfogle, assistant director, Career Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. “More alumni are coming back and they are looking for career related services. Alumni can be anywhere from a semester out of school to people who were here in the 70s and 80s.

“I think we’ve done an exceptional job of meeting the needs of returning alumni,” said Fryfogle. “We’ve answered the call.”

In this challenging economy you need to do everything you can on your path to securing that new job. Go now and knock on the door of that career center. The welcome mat is out.

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Having a Job is the New Green/Turn Overqualified Into an Asset

Being overqualified is the perfect Catch-22. Think back. When you first began working, prospective employers told you: “no experience, no job.” Now, if an employer believes you have too much experience, the outcome is the same—no job. Those alarming words, “you’re overqualified,” can pop up without warning to knock your job-seeking efforts off track. In a tight job marketplace, employers have the upper hand, so if you want that job, you’d better be prepared. Know the real issues lurking behind the label in order to counter it with style and grace. Understand that being called overqualified can be code for the following: You’re at the high end of the company’s pay scale; you’ll jump ship for a better offer; you’ll need more sick leave; you could be harder to terminate; you could become quickly bored with the position and you’re perceived as too old, which is discriminatory. James Walsh, publisher/editorial director, Silver Lake Publishing, Silver Lake, CA. said, “It is true; you don’t want to hire me to answer the phones. I’ll want too much money.” A person who is qualified to be an executive employee may be too hard to manage in a non-executive position, Walsh added. He is the author of Mastering Diversity, Silver Lake Publishing, ($29.95). There are a number of ways to defeat the ‘overqualified’ label. During an interview, redirect conversation toward the excellent match between your background/experience and the new job needs. Offer to work on a freelance basis. Suggest working two days a week as a consultant. “Position yourself as a real team player who is willing to bring top level expertise to the position offered,” said Joyce K. Reynolds, Business Coach, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. “Look for an opportunity to discuss becoming a mentor to others in the organization.” In some cases, the overqualified assessment may be a pretext for age discrimination, which has been illegal since the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 became the law. “It is difficult and unwise to act on only a suspicion of discrimination,” said Reynolds. “Far better to maintain a focus on the benefits the applicant’s qualifications will provide to the company and workplace.” Walsh agreed and added, “If you confront the interviewer, while it may give a quick dose of righteousness, it probably will cost you the job.” With a little work and some smarts, you can make being overqualified a very attractive option for an employer.

And, here’s another tip, especially if you’re looking for work in a restaurant. Wrote an article about being overqualified for Restaurant Management Magazine.

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Strawberry Fields Forever

Remember the Beatles song, “Strawberry Fields Forever?” Well, the agriculture peeps are about to change all that in California.

How so? By spraying the dangerous pesticide methyl iodide, slated to be used on strawberry fields in California.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) proposed earlier this year to allow methyl iodide, a carcinogenic chemical, to be used on California strawberry fields.

From the DPR website:
“Methyl iodide, also called iodomethane, is licensed for use in 47 other states. Injected into soil before crops are planted, the fumigant spreads through the soil to kill insects, weed seeds, plant diseases and nematodes. It can be applied by drip irrigation under a special protective tarp or injected into the soil using a tractor that automatically places a tarp over the ground after application. Methyl iodide products are made by Arysta LifeScience Corp. and sold under the brand name, Midas.”

Before methyl iodide, we had methyl bromide (determined to cause damage to ozone in the upper atmosphere). At the present time, the major uses of methyl bromide in California is to treat soil where strawberries, nursery plants and nut trees are to be planted.

A panel of Nobel scientists called methyl iodide “one of the most toxic chemicals used in manufacturing,” yet the state is considering allowing it to be sprayed and injected into the soil.

Lab tests involving rats and rabbits show methyl iodide can cause thyroid cancer and miscarriages. In addition, scientists say methyl iodide is also a neurotoxin according to California Watch.

Do we need more evidence that we shouldn’t be spraying this toxic chemical on fruits and vegetables we bring into the home and serve to our family?

Sign up with the Food & Water Watch to stop the spraying of dangerous pesticide.

STOP methyl iodide in its tracks and save the strawberry fields forever.

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Stop the Approval of GE Salmon

Yes, as early as this coming Tuesday, November 23rd, the FDA could approve Frankenfish.

I urge you to reject the approval of AquaBounty‘s genetically engineered (GE) salmon. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists indicate serious doubt in regard to research on the first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption.

Failed–The FDA has refused to consult other U.S. agencies on this issue, despite being required to do so under the Endangered Species Act. And, if GE salmon is approved, the FDA said it would NOT allow labeling of GE salmon.

Here’s what one U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientist had to say:

“…approval of the proposal is premature, given the unknowns and uncertainties regarding the possible ecological and environmental effects of these fish.” – Jeff Adams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

President Obama and the FDA need to take our concerns seriously and deny the approval of this experimental fish.

Call the President and tell him to reject GE salmon. Call today Phone:(202) 456-1111. I’ve made my call.

Get the Non-GMO Shoppers’ Guide application for iPhone and Android!

Sign petitions here to stop GE Salmon–

Center for Food Safety
Food Democracy Now
Institute for Responsible Technology
Food & Water Watch

Posted in | Tagged | 4 Responses

Is it Fish or Frankenfish?

Tell the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put a label on all genetically engineered salmon. Without the label consumers won’t know whether or not they’re eating genetically modified salmon.

The devil is in the details: In genetically engineered food, the DNA from one organism is placed into another and interferes with the structure and/or function of the animal. The salmon would get a growth gene from the Pacific chinook salmon and genetic material from the ocean pout, an eel-like fish, that would allow the salmon to grow in the summer and winter speeding up the natural growth process.

I don’t want a little eel with my salmon thanks very much. And, I don’t need my fish to grow to full size overnight. What I eat should be my choice and my choice alone. Without a warning label choice is taken away.

There’s an informative video produced by CNN: Eat Genetically-Altered Food?

Let’s be smart. Insist genetically engineered salmon require a warning label. Sign the petition ‘Tell the FDA: Put a Label on Genetically Engineered Salmon.’

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California’s Clean Air in Jeopardy

Look closely: Here are the options on the Clean Air Bill before the citizens of California: let big oil win or let Californians breathe easy.

Here’s the deal: Prop. 23 continues to get a huge push from the billionaire Koch brothers, Valero and Tesoro — spelled Texas oil giants.

Why does the Texas oil contingent want to suspend California’s global warming law? Because THEY own refineries in Alaska, Texas, California and Minnesota along with the control of 4,000 miles of oil pipelines that bring in an estimated annual revenue of over $100,000 billion.

Cut to the chase: The goal of Prop. 23 (the anti-clean air bill) is to overturn the environmental plan in place now, one that’s fair minded, balanced and workable, a bill not written by Texas big oil companies, global warming deniers or evolution critics.

Scheduled to roll out next year in California, the Global Warming Solutions Act would require a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. By voting yes on Prop. 23, it will effectively freeze the provisions of AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act.

And, here is the corker: Valero and Tesoro are among California’s TOP polluters. Plus if Prop. 23 goes down to defeat, Valero and Tesoro stand to lose big time since to comply with the new California environmental regulations they’d have to spend millions investing in new equipment in order to cut emissions while at the same time raise their costs without generating more revenue.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

What do you think?

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Happy Earth Day…

as the clickity-clack of the hazardous rail cargo steals through your hometown tonight.

On the eve of Earth Day 2010, this makes for interesting news.

The Department of Homeland Security rates hazardous railroad cargoes a high threat to 62 urban areas in the United States. However, federal agencies refuse to let firefighters, city governments and citizens know the railroad routes used to transport dangerous cargoes that have the potential to kill tens or hundreds of thousands of citizens.

There would be no way to evacuate a kindergarten next to a rail line carrying 90-ton chlorine tankers, should one of them derail, rupture, or be attacked by terrorists — if public ignorance of the threat kept evacuation planning and alarms from happening. The railroads have urged secrecy about the threats — since rerouting trains would cost them significant amounts of money.

The Federal Railroad Administration has a powerful lobby. Read the whole story here–The Sunlight Foundation reported this story on April 16, 2010. Find a copy of the 62 cities on the Sunlight Foundation’s website.

What we need now-
More government transparency.
More public safety considered first.
Less freight trains loaded with toxic chemicals.
Less Federal Railroad Administration self-interest

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Ingredients-what’s in the bottle?

We humans are so trusting. We trust companies that process our food have our best interests at heart. We trust automobile manufacturers to always do the right thing like telling us when something is out of whack with the cars they market and sell.

If you assume corporations, mega-companies and manufacturers put customers first in matters of safety and health concerns, you couldn’t be more wrong.

You’ve heard it all before. Products are constantly being removed from shelves that contain mystery ingredients. Some of those bottles, jars, and household products are tainted with Bisphenol A in baby bottles, heavy mental in children’s jewelry or melamine in dog food.

Now, environmental advocates in New York that include Clean New York, the American Lung Association and Sierra Club are challenging the cleanser industry to “show me what you’ve got,” in the bottle. Companies like Procter & Gamble Co. and Colgate-Palmolive Co., makers of Ajax, Ivory and Tide.

Studies have linked cleaning product components to illnesses that include asthma, antibiotic resistance, hormone changes and other related chronic conditions.

Once the companies are forced to admit to New York State what’s in the bottles and boxes, consumers like you and me will demand that the ingredient list be public knowledge.

Knowledge is power.

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Better Living Through Chemistry

On the food front, do you want the good news or the bad news first?

The bad news is this—there’s very little good news when it comes to food. And the really, really bad news—genetically altered food, aka “frankenfoods” isn’t fit for human or animal consumption.

Why? Here’s an example: the first public study of health effects of genetically modified corn shows that three patented crops developed and owned by agriculture super-giant Monsanto causes liver, kidney and heart damage in mammals.

Shockingly, the FDA has approved all three varieties for sale and consumption in the United States. Plus, all three crops are already in your food supply NOW. With no regard for consumers, Monsanto knew the damaging evidence against them, as the data used in the study came from their laboratory.

What we need to do—contact the FDA and tell them we don’t want genetically modified corn in our food chain. Remind them what their purpose is, to protect the public from unnecessary risk to our food supply.

This is another case of consumers trusting corporations to do the right thing. And, once again, corporate interest trumps human health.

Update: If you are concerned about GMOs in your food, growing your own vegetables and fruit is the answer. Take a look at Hometown Seeds, where you won’t find any genetically engineered seeds in their gardens.

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Airport Eateries – the good, the bad and the ugly

As if air travel wasn’t dicey enough these days, here’s a whole new argument for taking the train. You need to think twice before you grab a bite before your flight or you could be inviting some unwanted consequences.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention figures estimates 76 million cases of food-borne illnesses annually with most cases untraceable to origin of contamination. With airport food, its even more difficult to track given the nature of airports and passengers grab-and-go routines.

In an investigative article by USA Today, some startling information came to light on airport food. Be careful where and what you eat when traveling. Out of 800 restaurants at 10 airports, there were dangerous food conditions. Here are some highlights:

  • Detroit Metro Airport-chicken salad stored at 60 degrees in a cooler at Fuddruckers near Gate C25.
  • JFK International Airport-11 citations for mice in restaurants.
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-of the 57 restaurants, 42 percent had at least one critical violation.

Protect yourself. Since restaurant inspections are conducted by local health departments, here’s the deal—Find out what county the airport is located in, plug in ‘restaurant inspection data,’ name of the airport or the airport’s zip code. Plug in the name of the restaurant if you have it. No one said this would be easy.

Here’s another way to avert disaster. Before you launch yourself out the front door to catch that plane, pack your pockets full of PB&J sandwiches, an apple or banana. At least, you won’t have any unpleasant surprises in the air as a result of what you ate.

Update: Good article from Cooking Light on Healthy Airport Eats.

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